Regular Season, Game 54: Hurricanes at Washington Capitals

A rivalry is renewed when the Hurricanes and Capitals collide for the second time this season. The first meeting left me with a sour taste in my mouth. The Canes fell down 2-0 after the second period but clawed their way back in the third to tie it was just over six minutes left in the game. They would then be called for two penalties 30 seconds apart in the last five minutes and after killing the first penalty, the Capitals scored with 2:55 left in the game before adding an empty-netter to win 4-2. I felt the slash on Aho was a 50/50 call at best and it felt like far worse had been going on to that point. Regardless, they took the loss in November, so tonight should be about getting even. The Canes surrendered a late lead to the Red Wings on Tuesday night, dropping a 4-3 decision in overtime after a costly penalty during the extra session. Despite the losing decision, the Canes have earned points in their last seven games (5-0-2), their longest since opening the season with nine straight wins. Both Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho kept their point streaks going against Detroit, extending to nine and seven games respectively. Frederik Andersen will get the start for the games after earning the 2-1 win over Edmonton on Sunday. Derek Stepan draws into the lineup tonight for Seth Jarvis.

The Capitals have stumbled since the All-Star Break, going just 3-5-0 while holding onto the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They've lost three straight coming into tonight's game, losing to Toronto on Monday night, 5-3. Tom Wilson scored twice, but Ilya Samsonov allowed three goals on ten shots in the first period before being lifted for Vitek Vanecek. Vanecek allowed just one goal, but it was after the Capitals had climbed back into the game, so he took the loss in relief. All eyes will be on Alex Ovechkin, like always, who sits with 32 goals, one of which came in that November meeting. Niklas Backstrom did not play when they last met and he's been good since returning from injury, scoring 16 points in just 22 games. Carl Hagelin will be a key loss for the Caps after they announced he was out long-term with an eye injury, but Anthony Mantha will return to the lineup after missing time with shoulder surgery. Vanecek will start after his solid showing in the final 40 minutes against Toronto. This is the first of three meetings in the next 25 days between these two teams as they conclude their season series in March. It's also the front end of a back-to-back for the Canes before heading home to welcome Pittsburgh. I don't imagine they're already looking ahead in the schedule with as big a game as this is. I would expect a focused team tonight after a less-than-ideal result in Detroit. A new chapter will be written tonight and I'm sure it will be written in blood. 

1st Period

Scoring

(WSH) 18:33- Evgeny Kuznetsov (16) PP (unassisted)

Thoughts

I'm waiting for the Canes to show up to this game because this was a lackluster period. The Caps controlled the puck for most of the period and scored the only goal during a 5-on-3. It was a very undisciplined period for the team, taking three penalties. You can't take that many and expect not to get burnt with a team like Washington. The Caps also appeared to be the more physical team, despite the Canes leading 9-4 in hits. Tom Wilson showed up to play and laid some good hits. The period wasn't a total wash as the Canes did manage to keep it at just one goal despite their penalties. Someone needs to step up and get something going offensively to capitalize on a team with less than stellar goaltending. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(WSH) 8:30- Martin Fehervary (4) (assisted by Conor Sheary (13) & Garnett Hathaway (10))

(WSH) 15:05- Alex Ovechkin (33) PP (assisted by John Carlson (34) & TJ Oshie (9)

Thoughts

The Canes have already lost this game, which is not something I've said at this point in a game this season. They have looked awful in all three zones and are being completely outclassed by the Capitals in all aspects. Vanecek is outplaying Andersen. The Capitals' defense is jumping into the play more than the Canes. The penalty kill is being overworked and has allowed two power play goals. Everything that can go wrong for the Canes has gone wrong tonight. Martin Necas has had a couple chances tonight that he hasn't gotten shots on because it's clear something is wrong with him. I guess they can try to generate something with the 44 seconds they have left on the power play, but that doesn't feel likely. Someone just end this game already. 

3rd Period

Scoring

(WSH) 19:02- Dmitry Orlov (8) (assisted by Conor Sheary (14) & Justin Schultz (12)) 

Thoughts

The Canes outshot them badly, but the Caps scored the only goal of the period very late to make it 4-0. Vanecek held onto his shutout. I'm done with this game. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Yeah, right!

Final Thoughts

I'll never be able to explain why the Canes don't show up for nationally televised games, but their two worst efforts this season have come when they were televised on ESPN+. The first period was fine, they just took a lot of penalties. The game was over at the end of the second period, but they still had to play 20 minutes. The effort was there in the third, but Vanecek closed the door and the Canes dropped their second in a row. Tonight also marked the ends of two of the longest point streaks in the league for Teravainen and Aho. There aren't many positive takeaways from this one. This just means I have no clue who is showing up for the Pittsburgh game tomorrow night. Both teams will be on the second half of back-to-backs with the Penguins winning in Tampa Bay to pull within three points of the top spot in the Metro. Something has to change in the next 24 hours because a repeat performance like this isn't going to be acceptable.